New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum walks on the sidelines before the Oct. 8 game against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium. / The (Newark) Star-Ledger via US Presswire

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

Mark Sanchez kicked off this week of portraying the New York Jets' negative situation as a positive by saying the offense, which didn't score a touchdown in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, can turn it around "so quick it'll make your head spin."

Then it was Rex Ryan responding to a Tim Tebow-bashing article in the New York Daily News with anonymous quotes from players by insisting he had a tighter locker room than last season.

On Thursday, owner Woody Johnson said ... whatever he said. Something about being in the business of winning and calling "phony" the story line that he brought in Tebow merely to sell seats â?? an idea even Sanchez alluded to in September, by the way.

Finally, during an interview with WFAN's Mike Francesa on Friday, embattled general manager Mike Tannenbaum claimed that the 3-6 Jets were a few plays here and there from having something resembling a flipped version of their record.

"Go back to the Seattle game, we're on the 1-yard line, we have a walk-in touchdown, we have a key penalty. Next play, we could've thrown the ball away and taken the lead," Tannenbaum told Francesa. "My point is this: If you make those plays, now the complexion of the game changes. I'm not going to say we're going to beat Seattle if we score that touchdown, but I'd sure like to see what would've happened if we were up 14-7 on Seattle.

"I sure would've liked to have seen if we'd didn't have a blocked punt for a touchdown or onside kick recovered or a field goal blocked against Miami. Every game there's been plays. I'm not saying we would've won those games, but those plays change the complexion of the game."

Right. This is the NFL. Games are often decided by a few points and a couple of plays. Just ask the Cleveland Browns (2-7), who have lost four games by one score or less and have had a couple of double-digit losses that were closer than the final score indicated.

But so what? No one is confusing the Browns for an almost-good team. And no one should confuse the Jets for one, either.

The Jets have lost a pair of close games to the Houston Texans (six points) and the New England Patriots (three points in overtime) and beat the 6-3 Indianapolis Colts. But they also have losses of 17, 21, 21 and 34 points.

"I have the benefit of being here every day. I eat with these guys, I travel with these guys, I see them work on the practice field," Tannenbaum said. "I see guys make their weights every week, no one being late, no issues in meetings."

He added, "We have a bunch of guys working their tails off, trying to get better, and now it's up to us to figure out a way to get it done on Sundays. But it's not for lack of work or lack of character by our guys."

Tannenbaum inadvertently painted himself into a corner there. If he truly believes it's not for lack of character, effort, chemistry or coaching (all of which he endorsed during the interview), then it's for lack of talent.

And finding talent, of course, is the general manager's job.

"I'm not worried about me right now. I'm the last thing I'm worried about," Tannenbaum said. "I'm worried about this team and anything I can do to help. And each week, we've had our challenges. I think we've had more challenges than an average year, but no one's going to feel bad for us."

Uh, nope. Again, this is the NFL, and the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants won the past two Super Bowls with battered rosters.

At this point, it's far beyond one problem. And by this point next week, the Jets could be 3-8.

If this is what 3-6 looks like, some turkey heads won't be the only ones rolling in the next few weeks. And as the "leader," Tannenbaum should be giving some serious thanks if this team somehow turns things around against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday and the New England Patriots on Thursday night.

"We're all 3-6 and collectively we're in it together," said Tannenbaum, who called the addition of Tebow "a 3-6 decision" just like the rest of the ones the team has made. "The personnel department is 3-6, the security department is 3-6, the coaching (staff), we're all in this together, we're all 3-6."

The security department could not be reached to comment. Frankly, maybe that's the tack Johnson and Tannenbaum should've taken as well.

"No one's a bigger critic than me," Tannenbaum said, which seems to indicate he hasn't listened to any of his team's critics. "I know how privileged I am to have this job, and I'm sick being 3-6. It's not good enough. It's not good enough for Mr. Johnson, it's not good enough for our fans and it's not good enough for our players and coaches in the building."

No it's not. And if it doesn't somehow change soon, if Tannenbaum's feeling that this team is close enough to being good to turn it around doesn't show itself on the field, there's a chance he won't be feeling so privileged anymore.